Rail-lifting tool.



' P. GAGNON. RAIL LIFTING.TOOL.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG..27, 1914 1,131,051 Patented Mar.9. 1915. v

mm W

UNITEDSTATES PATENT- oFFIoE;

PRIM citation, or HAMMOND, innrann.

RAIL-LIFTING moon Application filed August 27, 1914'. Serial No. 858,945.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Peru GAGNON, a citi-' signed for the purpose of raising and carry: 7

ing railway rails.

The main object of the invention is to provide a tool which maybe quickly and easily applied to or removed from the head of a rail and to so construct the same as to allow for its use by a single person. By so constructing the device, each workman may carry a separate tool whereas, with the usual tongs now employed for the purpose of transporting rails, it is necessary for two men to carry such tongs from place to place.

In carrying out theabove end, I have provided a substantially L-shaped rail gripping member having inturned noses on both of its ends and an angular handle for operating the device.

A further object of the invention becomes to provide means whereby the two arms of the L-shaped member may be adjusted to render the device applicable to rails of different sizes.

as to adjust one .arm of the L-shaped member both laterally and vertically at the same time.

With the above and minor objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved lifting tool applied touse; Flg. 2 is an edge view of the tool proper, the handle being broken away; Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through the head of the tool showing its application to a rail having a larger head than that illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my improved rail lifting tool as comprising an upright=rigid aw 1, having an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

upper end is provided with a laterally ext tending arm 3 whose free end is bent downwardly as indicated at 4, the arm 3 overly' .ing the nose? and being spaced atsuitable .inturned nose. 2 at its lower end while its 7 distance therefrom. As clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower side ofthe arm 3 inclines upwardly and outwardly from its uncture with the jaw 1, this inclination being indicated by the numeral 5. Directly beneath the arm'3 and having an inclined upper surface 6 contacting with the inclined lower'surface 5thereof,;is an adjustable jaw 7 whose outer end is provided with a downturned nose 8, the jaw 7 being rendered adjustable by an upright bolt 9 whose head is countersunk in the lower side of said jaw, said bolt rising through a slot 10 in the arm 3 and receiving on its upper end a washer lland a clamping nut 12. The outer end ofthe jaw 7, and its nose 8 are shaped to snugly contact with the inner side ofv the downwardly turned end 4 of the jaw 3'when the parts stand as seen in Fig. 3 for application to a, comparatively large rail R, the portion 4: thereby effectually bracing the jaw 7 r and positively locking the same against outward movement.- I

7 When the device is applied to a comparatively small rail R as seen in F ig. 1,the jaw 7 is adjusted inwardly as seen in this figure.

During this inward adjustment, the inclined surfaces 5 and 6 will cause the. jaw 7 to move downwardly at the same time it isbeingad-g. I j I a j justed inwardly, thereby positioning the Yet another object is to so form the tool parts in such amanner as to allow the same to properly engagef the head of a; rail whether the same be small or large.

The upright rigid jaw 1 is here shown as provided with an upright attaching shank 13 to which the upright lower end 14: of an L-shaped handle 15 is secured by bolts 16 or 7 from. In order to allow the rail to be more i v rigidly clamped within the tool, the inner side of the nose 8 is preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly as indicated From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, a

it will be 1 seen that an extremely simple lifting tool has been provided, yet one which will be strong and eificient in operation.

I may here explain that the term L- shaped member, appearing in the claims, applies to the rigid aw l and the movable jaw 7, since these two members constitute a substantially Leshaped formation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A rail lifting tool comprising. an upright .rigid jaw having a laterally extending nose on its lower end, a rigid arm spaced from said nose and projecting laterally from the upper end of said rigid jaw, a substantially L-shaped movable jaw beneath said arm, means-whereby said L-shaped jaw may belocked in contact with said arm, and an operating handle projecting laterally from the rigid. jaw.

2. A rail lifting tool comprising an upright rigid jaw having a laterally turned nose on its lower end, an arm projecting laterally from the upper end of said jaw and overlying said nose, the lowervface of said arm inclining upwardly and outwardly I from its uncture with said ri id 'aw a substantially L-shapedmovable jaw beneath I said arm and having an inclined upper surface contacting with the inclined surface thereof, means whereby said movable jaw may be-locked in adjusted position and an operating handle projecting laterally from the-rigid jaw.

3. Arail liftingrtool comprising an upright rigid ,jaw having a laterally turned.

nose on its'lower end, a slotted arm projecting laterally from the upper end of said rigid jaw and overlying said nose, a substantially L-shaped movable jaw beneath said arm and contacting therewith, an ad justing bolt passing through said movable jaw and through a slot in said arm, and an operating handle projecting laterally from V the rigid jaw.

4. A rail lifting tool comprlsing an upright rigid jaw having a .laterally'turned.

nose on its lower end, a slotted ;arm,pr0- jecting laterally from the upper end of said rigid jaw and overlying said nose,..saidr arm having its lower surface inclined upwardly and outwardly from its. juncture with said rigid jaw, a'substantially L-shaped justing bolt passingthrough said movable jaw and through the slot-1n said arm, and

an operating handle projecting laterally from the "rigid jaw. v

5. A rail liftingtool comprising an upright rigid jaw having a laterally turned nose onits lower end, an arm projecting lav erally from the upper end of said jaw and overlying said nose, said arm having its free end bent downwardly to form a stop, a substantially L-shaped movable jaw beneath locking said movable jaw in adjusted position, and an operating handle projecting laterally from-said rigid jaw.

6. A rail lifting tool comprising: an up right rigid jaw havinga laterally turned;

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand .11]. presence of two subscribing jwit-' nesses. V a

, PRIMGAGNON;

I/Vitnesses RUTHERFORD SNELL, JAMES lVlASKER-f Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ofPatents;

' Washington, I). C.

r '65 said arm and designed to be limited 111-1118 outward movement by said stop, means for 

